Jimena Lopez has fashioned a rich, flavorful wine in her 2015 Graffito Mendoza Malbec, which has earned 92 points from James Suckling along with rave reviews from our tasting panel. Perhaps even more impressive is how she has imbued her Malbec with as much charm and grace as she has flavor and structure. Made from 100 year old vines emanating from Mendoza’s famed Uco Valley, the 2015 Graffito Malbec displays an enviable cachet the likes of...

The 2017 Areyna Valle de Cafayate Torrontes marks a new chapter for Casarena and sheds a whole new light on the Torrontes varietal. Sporting a snappy golden color with fresh green highlights as well as a wickedly aromatic bouquet, it is obvious that Casarena’s young and innovative winemaker Mariano Quiroga Adamo has mastered the often fickle Torrontes varietal. Fresh intoxicating scents of spring flowers, lychee fruit, and citrus waft from the...

J. Bouchon’s 2017 Pais Viejo emanates from 100-year-old dry-farmed vines from Chile’s Maule Valley. These head-trained Pais vines are planted on ancient soils consisting of granite and sandy loam formed by Chile’s coastal mountains. J. Bouchon’s 2017 Pais Viejo was 100% naturally-vinified using century-old winemaking techniques, including the use of the zaranda (a structure made of sticks to destem the grape clusters). The end result is a...

“Light, lovely, and ohhh so drinkable,” gushed one panel member to the smiles and nodding approval of the other members of the panel. Light in color, crisp and refreshing, Hermann Moser’s 2016 Green Eyes Grüner Veltliner leads with an appealing bouquet of freshly picked pears mingled with a hint of spice for which Grüner Veltliner is renowned. Appetizing and lively in the mouth, Moser’s Green Eyes goes down easily, but not before treating the...

The 2012 Penny’s Hill Footprint Shiraz proudly comes across as the estate’s ultimate luxury offering. Rich, powerful and highly aromatic, the still youthful 2012 Footprint offers a heady bouquet that fills a room with its breath. Pure blackberry fruit along with a complex mélange of cocoa, spice, vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus thoroughly captivate the nose. In the mouth, this “Footprint” leaves an even greater impression. Rich, bold and...

One sip of the 2016 Amayna Leyda Valley Sauvignon Blanc convinced us of just how far Leyda Valley has come in producing world-class wine. Although it sparkles and cuts a fine figure in the glass with flashes of sunshine and a gentle green glint, it is this wine’s intense aromatic profile and bright snappy flavors that sealed the deal for us. Mango, pineapple and passionfruit scents and flavors mingle with touches of citrus, ginger, and...

Elegance and purity with power characterize Château Margüi’s 2015 Côteaux Varois Rouge. From the moment the wine is poured, it tantalizes the senses. The wine’s brilliant ruby/purple robe captivates the eye, while an enchanting bouquet of floral scents, dark cherries, exotic spices, and well-integrated oak tones entertain the nose. Moreover, the wine’s pleasing aromas have happily seeped into the marrow of the wine, filling the mouth with an...